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Overview

Directed by British filmmaker Michael Radford, Nineteen Eighty-Four is the second film adaptation of the George Orwell novel. The film is set during April of 1984 in post-atomic war London, the capital city of the repressive totalitarian state of Oceania. Winston Smith (John Hurt) is a government bureaucrat whose job is rewriting history and erasing people from existence. While his co-worker Parsons (Gregor Fisher) seems content to follow the state's laws, Winston starts to write in a secret diary despite the fact the "Big Brother" is watching everyone at all times by way of monitors. He silently suffers and tries to comprehend his oppression, which forbids individual human behaviors such as free thinking and sex. He meets Julia (Suzanna Hamilton), who works for the Ministry of Truth, and they engage in a stoic love affair. They are soon found out, and Winston is interrogated and tortured by his former friend O'Brien (Richard Burton in his final film appearance).

Product Details

Release Date:

07/23/2019

UPC:

0715515232210

Original Release:

1984

Rating:

R

Source:

Criterion

Region Code:

A

Presentation:

[Wide Screen]

Time:

1:50:00

Sales rank:

5,096

Special Features

New 4k digital restoration, supervised by Cinematographer Roger Deakins, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack; Two scores: one by Eurythmics and one by composer Dominic Muldowney; New interviews wiht Director Michael Radford and Deakins; New interview with David Ryan, author of George Orwell on Screen; Behind-the-Scenes Footage; Trailer; Plus: An essay by Writer and Performer A.L. Kennedy

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Editorial Reviews

Filmed during the actual dates in 1984 as described in the book, Michael Radford's adaptation is the preeminent film version of George Orwell's infamous novel. The stark gray settings effectively set the mood of a totalitarian state. John Hurt is a beaten-down Winston, whose weathered face shows every result of his tortured existence, especially during the final devastating scenes with the Thought Police. Suzanna Hamilton does what she can as Julia, bringing some human warmth to the otherwise grim and desolate surroundings. In the last performance before his death, Richard Burton conveys Inner Party member O'Brien with a strange fatherly compassion that makes his sadistic role all the more disturbing. In contrast to some other flashy and visually inventive future dystopia movies, 1984 focuses on the plight of humans with an austere landscape, washed-out colors, and severe close-ups signifying the omnipresence of Big Brother. In general, 1984 faithfully follows the book in story, character, and tone, which makes for an authentic if thoroughly depressing and slow-paced movie.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Michael Radford's film of George Orwell's ''1984'' is possibly the finest screen adaptation of a book that I have ever seen. It features the same areas of London that Orwell portrayed in his book (Silvertown & Beckton) and was even filmed in the same time period that in which the book is set (April-June 1984). The film is probably best-remembered for Richard Burton's final role as the hideous-yet-sympathetic O'Brien, whilst John Hurt is equally excellent as the ultimately-doomed Winston Smith. I feel, however, I must comment on an earlier reviewer's ''warning'' that the Eurythmics' music has been replaced by ''somber violins'' (sic) for this DVD. This is simply not the case. I remember back in London in 1985 when director Michael Radford won, and subsequently refused, the BAFTA ''Best Picture'' award simply because the Eurythmics' soundtrack had replaced Dominic Muldowney's original score without Radford's permission and against his wishes. Muldowney's music - featured on this DVD - is extraordinarily sensitive, well-conceived and suits the mood of the story perfectly. It is good to see Michael Radford's vision of Orwell's future finally restored (and if you REALLY want to hear the Eurythmics music, go and buy their CD... that's where it belongs, NOT on ''someone else's film..!'')

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Guest

More than 1 year ago

Why did they have to ruin the soundtrack to this awesome work from 1984? The worst torment was lamenting the loss of the haunting strains of ''Julia'' during the closing credits and then to see the reference to the absent Eurythmic's soundtrack. Insult to injury. Still, a powerful adaptation and excellent story about the revisionst world we live in. When they release it with the correct soundtrack, I'll buy it again.